Londonderry bonfire: Police investigate 'offensive material'

The bonfire in the Meenan Square area of the city was lit on Sunday night

The police are reviewing evidence after "offensive and distasteful" material appeared on a Londonderry bonfire, a senior officer has said.

A bonfire in Meenan Square in the Bogside on Sunday had banners "making threats towards police officers and a member of the public," police said.

Politicians have condemned the incident, with some referring to it as a hate crime and "disgraceful".

"An evidence gathering operation was in place," PSNI Ch Supt Darrin Jones said.

He said if any offences were detected, a full police investigation would be carried out.

One of the posters referenced the murder of Catholic PSNI officer Ronan Kerr, killed when dissident republicans fitted a booby-trapped bomb to his car in Omagh, County Tyrone, in 2011.

Another made reference to PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne.

'Hate crime'

Speaking to BBC's Good Morning Ulster, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson condemned the incident and called on the police "to seek out those responsible".

"Putting the name of a murdered PSNI officer, Ronan Kerr, on a bonfire and just thinking of the hurt and pain that it causes to his family is absolutely dreadful."

"It is a hate crime, it's a criminal offence and it should not be tolerated," Sir Jeffrey added.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie described the incident as "absolutely disgraceful".

"No bonfires should have flags or effigies or the names of murdered police officers," he tweeted.

Sinn Féin's Karen Mullan said "displays of sectarianism and hate have no place in our society and are not representative of the local community".

"This was in stark contrast to the many excellent community events held throughout the area," said the Foyle assembly member.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland said the incident was a "deep insult" to the memory of Ronan Kerr and an "appalling indictment of some sections of our society".

Mark Lindsay says people in positions of responsibility need to help "eradicate this abhorrent practice"

"It is designed to intimidate and is deeply insulting to the vast majority of our society who support policing," said the federation's chair Mark Lindsay.

He called on people in positions of responsibility to help "eradicate this abhorrent practice".

The SDLP's Brian Tierney, who sits on Derry City and Strabane District Council's bonfire working group, said some of the banners burnt on Sunday night were "disappointing".

"We need to make young people understand that burning a flag or banner is not part of your tradition and point out just how offensive that can be to the other side of the community, " Mr Tierney told BBC Radio Foyle.

Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption.